Mervyn King beats James Wade to win Players Championship title
Tuesday 26 June 2018 19:17, UK
Mervyn King claimed a first PDC title since 2014 thanks to his hugely impressive 6-2 win over James Wade at Players Championship 15 on Tuesday.
With the Players Championship events moved to Tuesday and Wednesday this week, it was the King who secured the honours first and the £10,000 winners cheque on offer at the Barnsley Metrodome.
Simon Preston, Matthew Edgar, Rowby-John Rodriguez and Robert Marijanovic were all dispatched en route to the last eight where The King faced Ian White - the winner at Players Championship 6 earlier this year.
A 6-4 victory was enough to account for White and set up a semi-final with Mark Webster, who was beaten 6-3 as King claimed his place in the final.
Waiting for him there was Wade - The Machine enjoying another hugely impressive run on the PDC Pro Tour that saw him into a third final of the year.
The former World Matchplay champion accounted for Ryan Joyce, Robert Thornton, Paul Rowley and Chris Dobey before his stunning win over world champion Rob Cross set up a semi-final with Steve Beaton.
A win over the Bronzed Adonis took Wade into a 12th Players Championship final but King produced a stunning 105.2 average to run out a comfortable winner in his first Pro Tour final of the year.
"It's a massive day for me, I'm really happy with that result," said King, who is looking to rubberstamp his place at the World Matchplay next month.
"James is a fantastic player and a great friend who gives me a lot of advice in life and darts, so I knew I would have to play well to beat him.
"I upped my level in every game I played, which was pleasing. There's a bit more left in the tank but I'm really happy with how today went."
With no Michael van Gerwen in the field, world number two Peter Wright was the highest ranked player in action but he was beaten by Marijanovic in the third round, while Daryl Gurney, Dave Chisnall and Michael Smith all suffered surprise early exits.
Players Championship 16 takes place on Wednesday with several players looking to pinch a place at the World Matchplay before the cut-off after the weekend's European Darts Matchplay.
The top 16 in the Order of Merit will be joined by the top 16 from the Pro Tour who haven't already qualified for the right to play for the Phil Taylor Trophy at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Darts is back on your screens on Sky Sports in July for the World Matchplay - nine days of tungsten from Blackpool get underway on Saturday, July 21 and will run through to the final on Sunday, July 29
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